The Black Earth

The Black Earth

The Secrets of the Black Earth

The black earth of Sigtuna is, literally, littered with history. Almost everything we know about ancient Sigtuna has been excavated from the ground.

No written records remain from the time when Sigtuna was founded. Yet we know plenty about the town and its inhabitants.

How?

The black earth of Sigtuna carries its secrets. The soil is indeed blacker than ordinary soil. This is due to it being impregnated by medieval remains. Remnants of meals, constructions, fires and objects have all been converted into mould during the past years, forming what is called cultural layers. In Sigtuna, these layers reach the depth of three meters.

Since the early 1900s, archaeological excavations and the finds they bring continuously reshape the image of ancient life in Sigtuna.